SHILLONG:
VPP candidate from North Shillong Adelbert Nongrum, on February 9, filed an FIR at Sadar Police Station in Shillong on the alleged misappropriation of funds allotted by the central government to Meghalaya intended for COVID-19 activities.
Speaking to media persons after filing the FIR, Nongrum said that he is not accusing the government nor an individual but, “as a concerned citizen, I only wish to know where the money disappeared.”
As per the FIR copy, Nongrum stated that during the autumn session, he had raised a starred question on September 12 2022, regarding the amount spent on COVID-19 to date and with reference to the total amount spent from the centre.
The reply from the Health minister was Rs 76.56 crore. “However, media reports, dated January 31 2023, relating to RTI findings by one Disparsing Rani received from the Health Ministry, the government of India says otherwise,” he said.
As per RTI findings, the central release of grant-in-aid through the National Health Mission under India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness package for Meghalaya was Rs 15.61 crore in Phase II and Rs 104.12 crore in Phase II.
“I am not aware of COVID-19 activities continuing in the state after September 12 2022. Therefore, it is my principal duty to question how the amount of money declared in the State Legislative Assembly differs from that declared by the Union Health Ministry,” Nongrum added.
“This may be a case of theft or misappropriation of public money, which are offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” read the FIR report.
Last month, RTI activist Disparsing Rani alleged that the state government has misused funds of over Rs 43 crores sanctioned by the central government for tackling the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.
The COVID crisis struck the state when Dr Aman Warr was serving as the former Director of Health Service (DHS), the government of Meghalaya.
Interestingly, Adelbert Nongrum will be contesting against Dr Aman Warr, a UDP candidate and a few others to retain the North Shillong seat.